Lower Frederick man charged with attempted rape in church parking lot

LOWER FREDERICK — A 47-year-old man has been charged with attempted rape after he allegedly tried to enter a parked vehicle with a female driver inside, police said.

Shawn W. Atwell, of Lower Frederick, was arrested by township police Tuesday for the incident that occurred early Jan. 23 in the parking lot of Saint Mary’s Church and School on Spring Mount Road.

Lower Frederick Police also said Atwell allegedly made similar attempts at approaching women before state police from Skippack took him into custody Jan. 24.

“We knew immediately we had a potential danger on our hands and the community deserves to have (a high) level of protection,” Lower Frederick Police Chief Paul Maxey said of the investigation and eventual charging of Atwell.

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Around 7:30 a.m., Jan. 23, a 45-year-old female teacher pulled into St. Mary’s Church and School parking lot when a man, who police identified as Atwell, approached and “engaged her in a conversation, indicating that he was looking for Bibles,” a police press release said.

“After a brief conversation, Atwell attempted to open and enter the trunk of the victim’s vehicle without her permission,” the release continued. “Becoming alarmed at Atwell’s behavior, the victim drove from the scene.”

Atwell drove away from the scene as well, police said, but he returned in his black Dodge Journey and drove around there for awhile but he was not apprehended.

More incidents occurred following that, all involving a “ruse or story to approach females with intent in engaging them in conversations.”

The day after he attempted getting in the teacher’s car at St. Mary’s, Atwell reportedly went to Upper Frederick to a Lords and Ladies salon and tried something “similar,” actually entering one vehicle but never “carry(ing) out an intended acts on any of the victims,” the police release said.

“People were very concerned from the moment he got,” to the salon, Maxey said. “State troopers were able to get information on him. He actually made an appointment to get his hair cut so they knew who he was.”

Atwell was taken into custody by the state police and interviewed, but Maxey said he did not admit to his involvement in any of the incidents police were investigating.

Lower Frederick Police Officer David Milligan was essentially the lead on the investigation in Lower Frederick and took notice of Atwell’s arrest. He interviewed Atwell Tuesday morning, when Atwell allegedly confessed to being involved in the Jan. 23 incident and that he had “intentions of forcing the female teacher...to engage in sex.”

Arrested after the interview Tuesday, police charged Atwell with criminal attempted rape and unlawful restraint, both felonies, as well as misdemeanor disorderly conduct and misdemeanor stalking.

Arraigned before on-call District Judge Scott Palladino, his bail was set at $50,000 cash and, in lieu of that, he was sent to Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

In 2003, Atwell was taken into police custody after an incident where he entered a school in North Coventry, according to Maxey.

“Ultimately what happened with that situation was they deferred prosecution and went with mental health treatment,” Maxey said. “It wasn’t really clear he was doing anything sexually driven (then).”

Mental health would likely be found as “a component” factoring into the latest incidents, according to Maxey.

Potentially solving such an “unsettling” case has Maxey relieved.

“I think it’s huge for this community,” he said. “Clearly, our motivation with this case was to protect the community from someone we think is dangerous.”

The chief also praised Milligan’s work.

“I can’t say enough about Dave Milligan,” Maxey said. “It was his tenacity, his thoroughness, that said, ‘Something is wrong here.’ He knew immediately that (Atwell) had predator-like tendencies.”

About the Author

Frank Otto is a general assignment reporter covering Phoenixville, Limerick and Spring-Ford schools in addition to features and spot news. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Otto moonlights with the sports department on occasion. Reach the author at fotto@pottsmerc.com
or follow Frank on Twitter: @fottojourno.